By Julia Olson
Assistant Editor
Cincinnatians interested in exploring the world-famous American Jewish Archives and the Klau Library on the historic HUC Cincinnati campus are invited to attend a behind-the-scenes tour on Tuesday, September 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Participants will take a tour of the archives and the library.
HUC Cincinnati is the oldest existing Jewish seminary in the United States.
The college and its famous library were founded by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise in 1875. The library began with 130 volumes. It now houses over 500,000 printed books alone, as well as manuscripts, digital media and periodicals.
The Klau Library in Cincinnati is the largest collection of Jewish material in the country, and second in the world, with the National Library of Israel as the largest.
Those interested in this tour may also visit the rare book room, where some of the most valuable books and manuscripts in HUC’s collection are housed.
Some items in the rare book room include materials from the Jews of Kaifeng. These manuscripts were written during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and were acquired by HUC in the 1920s. These are the only known manuscripts which feature both Chinese and Hebrew characters. The collection also features books with rare, artistic binding, a vast stamp collection, and a number of Haggadot, including the First Cincinnati Haggadah which dates to the fifteenth century.
The American Jewish Archives houses materials featuring the history of Jews and Jewish communities in the Western Hemisphere. Dr. Jacob Radar Marcus founded the AJA in 1947 with the goal of collecting and preserving historical materials related to American Judaism. Dr. Marcus sought to make this vast collection of material available to all for research. He wanted to promote the study of American Jewry in order to preserve continuity of Jewish life and learning.
The AJA houses a large amount of American Judaica, including over 800 major manuscript collections, photos, microfilm, and more.
In the archives, visitors can find materials that highlight the foundation of the Jewish community in the United States. This includes items dating to the very birth of our republic. For example, the archives house a letter, dated August 17,1790, from Moses Seixas, a representative of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. The missive congratulates George Washington on his victory and lauds the new nation’s vision of religious liberty.
The archives also feature items related to life in Cincinnati, including photos of HUC’s first home, the basement of Mound Street Temple.
Those interested in Civil War history can find a plethora of material on Jewish life during that period, including Isaac Mayer Wises’ own obituary for Abraham Lincoln.
The tours of the Klau Library and the American Jewish Archives are offered as part of the Ohio Open Doors events in Cincinnati. The Ohio Open Doors is a state wide event running from September 6th to the 15th. Building and landmark owners will open their doors to the public for special tours and programming. The HUC library and the AJA are integral parts not only of Cincinnati’s history, but of the history of the United States. If you are interested in visiting these collections, please find more information about registration on the Klau Library website. Light refreshments will be served.
